Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-10

OubWlGt0u anu us savage anger Knew
no bounds. He kicked at the door and
called on me wildly to open it; he
assured me that he had accomplices
| outside and that they would soon burst
| the old door from its hinges, and nv
! life would be the forfeit.
To my terror I perceived that his
ords were no idle boast. The door.
secured by its many fastenings on the
one side, was weak on the other; its
! hinges we're nearly eaten through
with rust, they needed but some vigor-
! GUS kicks to burst them from their
resting places in the wood. I knew
that was only protected for q few
minutes, and that even if the thief was
alone he had but to continue to assail
the door as vigorously as he was now
doing for little longer to gain fresh
entrance into my chamber. I rushed
to the window, threw up the sash, and
bent half out. Into the clear, calm air
of the night l sent my strong voice.
"Help! help thieves !-fre!- danger!
help! help"
l shouted these words over and over.
but there was no response except an
echo. Ny room looked into q distant
shrubbery; the hour was late, and the
whole household was in bed. The thief
outside was evidently making way with
the musty hinges and I was preparing,
at tile risk of any consequences, the
moment he entered the room to leap
from the window, when I heard dog
bark. I redoubled my cries. The
bark Of the dog was followed by foot
steps; they came nearer, treading down
fallen branches, which cracked under
the welcome steps The next instant a
man came and stood under the window,
and looked up at me. He was probably
a villager taking short cut to his
home. He stood under the window,
and seemed terrified; perhaps he took
me for the ghost. He was not, how
ever, all coward, for he spoke, what
is wrong?" he said.
"This is wrong" answered, II am
in extreme danger. There is not mo.
ment to lose. Go instantly, and wake
up the house, and say that I, Miss
Coyle, am in extreme danger in the
Tapestry wing. Go at once-at once!"
1 spoke distinctly, and the man
seemed to understand. He flew away.
the dog following him. threw myself
on my knees, and in the terrible mo-
ments that followed prayed as I had
never prayed before Would the man
be in time? Must my young life be
sacrificed? All! no, I heard joyful
sounds; the thief's attacks on the door
ceased suddenly, and the next instant
the Judges hearty voice was heard.
"Let me in, Hattie! What is wrong,
child?"
I did let him in, and his wife, and
several alarmed looking servants who
followed after. We instantly began to
look for the thief, but-mystery of
mysteries-he had disappeared. That
terrible man with the black
hair and white lock over his
forehead had vanished as completely as
though he had never been. Except for
the marks which he had made with his
feet on the old oak door there was not
trace of his existence. believe the
servants doubted that he had even
been, and only thought that the young
lady who was foolish enough to sleep
in the Tapestry room had been visited
by new form Of the ghost. Be that
as it may, we never got clew tc
where or how the man had vanished.
Three years later I was again on a
visit to Clifton's Vale. This time I did
not sleep in the Tapestry room. I now
occupied most cheerful, modern. and
unghost-lihc room, and but for one Cir
cumstance my visit would have been
thoroughly unremarkable.
This was a circumstance which seems
in wonderful way to point moral to
my curious tale. paid my visit to the
Cliftons during the assizes. Judge
Clifton, as one of the most influential
country magnates, was necessarily much
occupied with his magisterial duties
during this time. Every morning he
went early into L., the town where
the assizes were held. One morning
he told us of case which interested
him.
HE is hardened villain" he said
"he has again and again been brought
before me, but he has never yet been
convicted. He is unquestionably
thief; indeed, one of the notorious
characters in the place; but he is such
q slippery dog no jury has yet found
him guilty. Well, he is to be tried
again to-day, and I do hope we shall
have some luck with him this time"
The Judge went away, and 1t came
into his wife's head and mine to pay a
visit to the court and see for ourselves
the prisoner in whom he was interested.
No sooner said than done. We drove
into Il, and presently found our
selves in the crowded building. When
we entered the case under discussion
had not begun, but a moment after a
fresh prisoner was ushered into the
dock.
What was the matter with mea Z |
found my sight growing dim; fo-zd |
myself bending forward and peering
back. The sensation of a couple of |
hours of mortal agony returned to me
again. Who was in the prisoners dock |
/ knew the m:an. He was my guest |
of the TaDestry room of three wears 400